A US Seventh Fleet spokesman said: “The Ronald Reagan and Carl Vinson Strike Groups were joined by the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Forces (JMSDF) for routine training to improve interoperability and readiness in the Indo-Asia Pacific.”

Japanese military officials declined to comment on the drill.

The United States has led the efforts to bring further sanctions to punish the North and is urging China, Pyongyang’s main sponsor, to play a greater role in applying pressure on the unpredictable regime of Kim Jong-un.

Warplanes line the deck of the USS Carl Vinson as part of the sea and air drills off the coast of North Korea

US President Donald Trump has said Monday’s missile test showed “disrespect” for China, while Japan’s prime minister Shinzo Abe vowed that the “North Korean problem is the international community’s top priority”.

Along with South Korea, Japan is the most directly threatened by Pyongyang’s provocations -Monday’s test was the second time this year that a North Korean missile has fallen close to its shores.

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